VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE: HOW TO BE GRATEFUL? - GEOGRAFÍA - 2024

This article is about a reflection to be grateful and learn to value what we have. Some people live so fast and are so unaware of their privileged situation that they forget to feel grateful for the luck of being born in a certain situation and place.

In the world there are millions of people living in extreme poverty. Many live on the streets and go days without eating. However, many of the people who live in the Western world, with wealth, great opportunities and many comforts, do not appreciate what they have.

Some figures:

• The world's poorest children are 2.7 times less likely to have a qualified professional present at birth.
• 1.3 billion poor people in the world.
• The 20 poorest countries in the world are found on the African continent, led by Rwanda, Guinea, Benin, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Malawi, Angola and Chad.
• More than 60% of the world's population suffers from malnutrition.
• A male child born in 2012 in a high-income country can be expected to live to the age of approximately 76 years, which is 16 years longer than a male child from a low-income country (60 years).

The tendency not to value

The human being is an animal of routines and, especially those of the western world, have a tendency to forget and not appreciate the value of their health and wealth. I am not talking about billionaires, just if you have a salary of more than 600 euros it is already much more than the 1.3 billion people who live on 1 dollar or less a day.

However, this trend changes when something valuable that we had is lost (although until the moment of the loss we are not aware of its value): when a relative dies, when we lose our job, our home, our health…

For example, recently a psychologist friend told me about the case of a wealthy woman who had had a traumatic accident. From that moment, and already 60 years old, she began to realize her luck and now her greatest pleasure is to sit and observe the people and the landscapes.

This trend is related to our ability to adapt and get used to various life situations. It is said that people get used to the good quickly but very slowly to the bad. For example: we get used to work, to living in a house with all the comforts, to family…

In fact, having a quick adaptability is very positive. For example, if you travel to a foreign country to work, it will be a great advantage to adapt quickly to new situations.

So what is the problem?

The problem is that comfortable situations, such as having a job, a home, a partner, a family, are never forever and also, not being aware of it makes you ungrateful, which in turn prevents you from being happy.

These ideal situations always end on some occasion: a family member dies, loses the house, loses the job, does not have the same income, breaks up with the partner… Therefore, it is advisable to enjoy them as much as possible.

Why is it so difficult to value what we have?

According to Positive Psychology research, when something positive comes into our lives (for example a good job), we rejoice, although that happiness lasts on average about three months.

True gratitude is not an automatic emotional experience and simply being polite is not the same.

We currently live in a materialistic society in which there is a tendency to believe that the more things one has, the better one is. This causes comparisons and forgetting about everything we have-because we always want more.

Especially comparing yourself with others is something quite negative since it encourages envy, greed and forgetting to experience gratitude because we do not focus on who we are and have.

Perhaps more should be taught in schools to be truly grateful and not so much to say "thank you" without appreciating anything.

How to be more grateful and value what you have

One way to overcome habituation to our positive situations and be more grateful is to practice appreciation or gratitude.

You can do it:

• Reflecting every day on all the positive things you have in your life.
• Write a list of all the things you can be thankful for.
• Practice meditation. Visit this article to learn about the benefits of meditation.
• Practice mindfulness. Visit this article to learn about mindfulness.

These last two - practicing meditation and mindfulness - will allow you to be more aware of your situation and enjoy the present moment. Its practice will prevent you from living the day as a routine in which you simply react and do not realize the moment in which you live.

• Having experiences abroad

Traveling to a poor country will allow you to realize and see the reality of your situation. I assure you, it will change your worldview - I have been to several poor countries myself. I would also tell you that this not only serves as a personal experience and that it ends there, but that you encourage yourself to participate in socially responsible activities, such as volunteering.

• Having volunteer experiences

In volunteering, you will first be providing something of value to NGOs that need help, and also, comparing your reality with the reality of people who have real problems will surprise you and make you forget about unimportant problems.

Can that attitude be maintained over time?

In my personal experience, yes, although you must not forget to practice some of the activities. As soon as you enter the routine of Western life with all the comforts, it is easy to forget to be grateful.

Health benefits of gratitude

According to scientist Robert Emmons , gratitude has the following benefits:

Physical

• Stronger immune system.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• More hours of sleep and a greater sense of rest.
• Less aches and pains.

Psychological

• Higher levels of positive emotions.
• More alert.
• Greater optimism and happiness.
• Block negative emotions.
• Greater sense of self-worth. Visit this article on how to value yourself.

Social

• Be more generous and compassionate.
• Forgive more.
• Feeling less alone and isolated.

And what do you think? Are you grateful and value what you have? I am interested in your opinion. Thank you!